The motivation for his decision to opt out was that he could put pressure on the Clippers to improve the roster, to make the team better by spending a little money. They did just that. So Brand should have fallen in and re-joined the Clippers. But five days have passed and Brand still hasn't signed.

It's worth asking: Why not?

"It makes sense for Elton to wait till the salary-cap numbers come out, because then he knows exactly what teams can offer and what his options are," says one league source. "He wants the max. He can put the Clippers in a situation that they have to give it to him."

One general manager agreed. "I don't think Elton really wants to leave the Clippers, but he wants them to pay him, too," he said...

If L.A. wants to keep Brand, the only way to ensure it happens is to up the offer. Otherwise, by the end of this week, we could have our second shocker of the free-agent period.

There's some irony here. By opting out, Brand clearly put pressure on the Clippers to spend more money on other free agents. What isn't clear is whether he can put enough pressure to get the Clippers to spend more money on himself.

My most cynical sense is that Brand's initial posture -- "Show me you're serious about winning, and I'll stay" -- was based on his belief that the Clippers would never be able to attract the talent to demonstrate their seriousness, which, in turn, would give him cover to walk. But when the Clips landed Baron Davis, it left Brand in the awkward position of having to either live by his word -- and forfeit $20M -- or leave and break his tacit commitment.

Again, this is the least generous read on the situation. The more hopeful one is...hopefully...more likely. And the best case scenario is here.

UPDATE: Marc Stein gets into the numbers:

...Even if Brand is not interested in the extra sixth year that only the Clippers are allowed to offer him and insists on a five-year deal -- as my tireless colleague Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News reports -- L.A. can still assemble a five-year deal worth $80-85 million and give Davis his estimated $65 million over five years.

We might eventually be looking at a difference of only $10 million or so between the two contracts, as opposed to the widespread assumption that the Warriors are offering some $20 million more than their Pacific Division co-tenants ... as long as Clippers owner Donald Sterling is willing to go to the five-year max.

No matter how jittery Clippers officials might be about Golden State's rich offer -- as we also keep hearing -- Sterling shouldn't have much to fret about if he's willing to nudge Brand's new deal past the $80 million plateau. I struggle to see a shortfall of $10 million or $12 million or anything in that ballpark convincing Brand to walk away from L.A. to join a Golden State team that suddenly has a major hole at point guard as well as a younger core than the team he'd be leaving.

It's especially hard to picture that scenario when you factor in Brand's well-chronicled love of Hollywood, his one-of-a-kind pride in being a Clipper and the fact that Brand, as ESPN.com reported last week, specifically told Clippers management during negotiations on a contract extension in June that Davis was the player he hoped they'd pursue if Davis became available in free agency.

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Comments

It seems to me like of all the teams looking at him right now (Spurs, Celtics et al.) Detroit seems like the best fit for Corey. They can play offense-defense with Prince and Maggs at the 3, and unlike the other two teams where he'd be buried behind a legitimate offensive player at the 3 (Ginobili or Pierce), he really offers something at that position that they are lacking in Detroit.

On the other hand, passing is very important to the Detroit offense, and K.A. has lamented Corey's passing many times in the past. Still, I think Corey has made real strides in his passing over the last two seasons, and could be a good fit there.

I'm holding out faith that Brand will return...He's always been a guy with great character and the fact that he put that statement out when he opted out would mean the only way he could leave is by breaking his word, which would feel like being stabbed in the back by him. I hope he re-signs!

Isn't one of the simpler explanations that Brand is taking his time to quell any suspicions of "tampering." You have irresponsible local journalists (cough: Plashcke:cough) claiming Brand and Davis orchestrated opting out together, when that's simply conjecture, anyway you slice it. Great "journalism," there

Anyway, Brand taking his time is just creating a little drama. What difference does it make if he signed before the 4th of July weekend or after. I'm sure we hear news on Monday that he's resigning with the Clippers.

Another rumor: Corey is waiting in the wing to re-sign with Clippers. Clippers are refusing to pay max deal to Brand. Fealing rejected, Brand will agree or leave. If he leaves, Clippers can offer long term deal to Corey.

Clippers are in solid position because Baron Davis is solid for Clips. He'll sign with or without Brand.

All this is ridiculous. Brand doesn't need the extra money, he's already rich beyond what he could ever spend. And he's just going to get richer as kinda happens when you are not an idiot and have a bunch of money. Corey's willing to take WAY less than what he's worth to go to a winner (hell, Duhon just signed for the midlevel) and I can't believe that Brand is the slightest bit worried about getting the max. This article sounds like pure bunk. Stupid GM's interviewed and this writer is almost always WRONG. How are the Clippers going to offer him more than their salary cap permits? Hasn't he already been offered the max that they can offer? That is why I see this article as garbage.

I see no one on that free agent list I would be sad to lose other than Maggette, who has played hard for the Clips for many seasons regardless of what you think of his defense and passing (really not much to think about in those categories). Still, the Clippers need 12 bodies, at least 8 of whom need to be contributing, so hopefully Brand will sign for a little less money and give us some flexibility to put more people around him.

Love the high stakes poker being played by EB's reps (not to mention every other players agents) and presumably a handful of NBA teams as everyone is angling to get theirs.

I'll give the Clips credit for trying to bring in Baron wile retaining EB.. as well as try to get their hands on Mayo during the draft. It seems that they are now working towards providing us a competitive team to follow, but ya, you guys are right..if the Clips are unable to make the EB and BD signings a reality Staples will become even more of a morgue than it has already become the last two seasons and I too will be a casualty of their continued ineptness.

With that said, I find it hard to believe that EB will leave with BD agreeing to come. EB putting his house on the market is pretty odd though but I don't think it means he's going to leave..there are lots of houses in LA, maybe EB wants a new one

Ya EB's definitely a different guy, and with this being his one shot at true free agency while still in the prime of his career..he's most likely making sure everythings set, while examining all his options. I think the Clips will be able to pony up some more dough when the cap numbers become clear, and who knows maybe theres some crazy sign and trade scenerios being weighed similar to those discussed in the link above.

Let's be honest, although with BD coming here, getting to stay in LA (with the new Clips training facility and all) re-upping with the Clips is still a risk for him. Although the Clips appear to be trying harder these days to win, they do still employ Elgin and the dunce and that can't possibly be something he sees on the plus side for staying. In other words, this picture looks pretty good I'd imagine but it's not perfect if your goals are to play for the ultimate prize year after year.

I'll admit though, if this deal goes down as planned, the Clips will be well on their way to becomming relevant in this city once again.

ACD..I have stated here before that I would gladly refer to him by his normal boring name, but he hasn't shown me any reason to drop said nickname in his tenure here. I only see more and more reasons to refer to him as such every time I open my eyes and see him do some of the dumbest things imaginable..or have to listen to his painfully pathetic excuses time after time. Hell dude..I'd love it if he woke up smart one day but given his long history of being the dunce, this is not something that any of us should be waiting around for.

Besides, ACD, and more importantly, the generous check I write year after year affords me the right to refer to him in any way I see fit. And until he proves to me otherwise, he's the dunce. I'd say sorry you are not amused but I could care less cause this is how we refer to him. It's as fitting of a nickname as any ever dawned, and it'll continue as long as he's here and making bonehead decisions.

TW, if we compare your income with MD's, and that income level is a reflection of someone's intelligence, then I guess that would put you in fairly big trouble intellectually. If MD is a dunce, wouldn't mean you are severely retarded?

ACD: By that reckoning, what's another $20 million? You pay taxes in that bracket at what, 45%? That takes care of $9 million. I don't know what an agent gets, but lets say its another $500k.

At the end of the day, an extra $20 million is more like $10.5 million. An extra $10 million if the numbers discussed in the SJ Mercury piece are to be believed, is more like $5 or $6 million, and that extra dough is spread over the life of the contract. So maybe you get an extra $1 million per after taxes.

A hell of a lot of money to me and you, to be sure, but is an extra $1 million per year after taxes worth it for EB if it means taking a big step down in the standings, sullying your good guy image and looking like the second coming of Carlos Loozer, and moving away from the logical and tres hip LA locale when your day job is being a movie producer?

Jerdog.. I wish the world were so black and white, but it isn't. One's intellect and their income may have a correlation, but not in this case. There are plenty of people that aren't that bright that fell into things. This particular point of reference has a long history of making incorrect decisions, then quickly placing blame onto others while shamelessly self-promoting himself into the world's worst coaching contract. Quite simply, the dunce is a manipulative idiot that's preying on an NBA team Owner that's had less success than he's had. That's not much success, but it's DTS' Clipper team we are talking about. Try again.

This story is not a sign Brand is going to stay. Apologies for being negative, but I think it's time everyone started accepting the fact that this long delay on Elton's part isn't (1) an attempt to quell any investigations about collusion or (2) holding out for more money from the Clips. After supposedly insisting the Clippers find a top flight point guard (they have), Brand still is looking at options to LEAVE. Think about it:

- Warriors -- Option to play with Ellis, Stephen Jackson and some young bigs.

- Sixers -- Option to play with some young talent like Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith, but also reunite with Andrew Miller (wasn't he perceived as a quitter when he was with the Clips?). Plus they would have to trade away Rodney Carney just to sign him.

- Clips - Glorified playoff hero (and arguable MVP in 2007) Baron Davis, Chris Kaman and an emerging Thorton who is at this point more polished than Young.

Objectively, you'd assume he'd want to go to the Clips, but there has been no rush to sign. Considering Brand's "loyalty" there must be other forces at work here, either in the Clips organization or on the team itself.

Plus, those movie industry arguments for him to stay may not really have much sway. While critically acclaimed, "Rescue Dawn" hasn't come close to getting into the black and Brand has made some negative comments over the year about that experience.

All being all, if you had a chance to make a fresh start (when you didn't expect to), wouldn't you take it?

The question is: Who can the Clips sign to start at the four? Do they really entice Maggette back? Can they outbid the Hawks for Josh Smith (talk about Maggs part deux)?

The irony of all of this is that if Brand is intent on leaving, let the Clips trade him to Miami for Marion. At least Marion has a chance to help the Clips stay competitive in a contract year.

I'm still banking on BD's confidence that he'll be playing with EB. Of all the sources out there, I'd have to say that BD's got to be the most reliable as he probably has EB's cell phone number. It's just a matter of time. Right?

ACD..ya I know the dunce is not one of the top ten coaches in the league. He's in that middle third of coaches I would say, which does not warrant him the salary or the decision making power he's been given. To me, that's a fact and given how many times he's been wrong here over the years..he's not fooling anybody except you and Jerdog.

And although at the end of the day, I believe EB will end up staying here in LA, not for the dunce but for everything else. However, ACD, should EB decide to bolt town, this is exactly what I have been talking about for years about the dunce..that he's not capable of keeping this team buying into his continued failed basketball philosophies. This had started to happen BEFORE Clips management was so damn stupid to give him that extension, and should EB leave it'll have a shit ton more to do with the dunce being here and the whole aura of the Clips than whatever scenerio he ends up taking elsewhere. So go ahead and keep up the dunce-loving with the other 10 people at Staples if EB leaves town this week.